Getting That Cutting Edge

It should be obvious that looking after our belongings is key to rejecting a throw-away culture and reducing waste because it prevents breakages and prolongs the life of items.

I’ve now entered the maintenance and cleaning phase of my “home revival” which follows a decluttering and rehoming phase, then an upcycling and repairing phase, as well as a disposal phase where a few items have been recycled and composted, and a small amount sent to landfill. So, I think there’ll be some posts in the coming weeks about how to maintain and clean items to enhance them and extend their life, but today I got started by getting all the blunt blades in my home sharpened.

It’s important to have sharp knives, scissors, clippers and other tools in your home because dull blades often cause accidents. This is because they don’t grab properly, making them more likely to hurt you by slipping. Tools that work well are also more efficient meaning you get jobs done quicker and to a higher quality, which creates a more pleasant experience when undertaking tasks. And of course, if it works, you’re less likely to throw it away which saves you money.

Knife and scissor sharpening is a skill I want to learn and pass on to my kids, so I watched some YouTube videos and gave it a go using a sharpening stone and sharpening steel. I completely botched it, making the blades worse so I stopped before I did any more damage.

I decided to get a professional sharpener to do the job.

Knife sharpening is the first thing I’ve spent money on for my entire home revival and I’m totally fine about that because I’ve saved so much money by doing everything else myself. It’s also cheaper than replacing all my knives, scissors and clippers, and they shouldn’t need sharpening again for 12 months.

I had a good chat to Scott from Mr. Sharp (it’s a mobile service which can sharpen all sorts of blades) and he explained that it does make a difference when you buy the more expensive knives and scissors because the steel holds its shape and sharpness for longer and they are easier to re-sharpen. He says a quality, well cared-for knife or tool is something you should invest in once and enjoy for a lifetime – even pass on to the next generation of chefs in your family. I like that idea and I’m kind of sad that I don’t have high quality durable knives and scissors, but I’m still proud that I’m making my cheaper tools last as long as possible.

Now that my tools are all nice and sharp, I need to prevent the blades from being damaged. This means storing them properly. This is where I begin to feel a bit of a fool. I had a knife block but I got rid of it a few years ago, because I thought it was a decorative item that simply took up space. I had no idea a knife block was used to stop the blades from being banged around in a cutlery draw! Scott said to try storing the knives on magnets on a wall if I wanted to save space, so I’ll look into that when we’re setting up the new house. He also said I should stop washing them in the dishwasher. Whoops.

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8 thoughts

Tammy, when using a knife block it is very important to store the knives with the blade up! Otherwise the knives are resting on their blades and running along a groove which is never cleaned and builds up dust and grime. But yes, those magnet strips are great for storing knives too.

Good idea about the knife sharpening Tammy. But why are so many sharp knives needed? Ive 3-a big sharp chopping knife, a smaller peeler and a bread-slicing knife that I don’t think I can sharpen. I dont need meat knives which may make a difference.

No you’re right, this many big knives probably aren’t needed if you wash and dry straight away, but I’ve been a bit slack using the dish washer which means I sometimes run out of clean knives before the dishwasher is full to run it. Also, when we have dinner guests and parties it’s handy to have a few extra meat knives (there’s four of us) and chopping knives so that others can pitch in and help prepare salads and other food at the same time. It’s much more fun working in the kitchen with others! Plus, I didn’t buy the knives separately. Some were given to me in a set after I had some.
Scott, sharpened my bread knife today too, so it’s definitely possible. 😄

Thanks for the sharpening contact info. I’m a pretty dab hand at sharpening all my cooking/butchering knives but things like food processor blades or anything with serrations are a bit different. Interestingly I used to buy VERY expensive knives but have discovered some branded ‘Kiwi’ which are extremely cheap, last very well and sharpen beautifully. I’ve been using my $6.00 kitchen knife for 7 years now and it still sharpens like new. So if you can’t or choose not to spend a lot there are some good ones around, these range from about $3.00-$15.00 and are available at many Asian grocers/homewares stores like at Springvale Market. I did a blog post about them but can’t open my site to put the link up. Knives not sharpened well are very dangerous!

Thanks Maree. It is interesting because my cheapo knives have lasted 10 years so far. The black plastic handles are getting a bit ugly but that’s probably from the dishwasher. I guess the difference with high quality steel could be 50 years compared to 15-20years.

The knives in your post look fabulous! Thanks for sharing that for people looking for new knives.

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Hi there, I'm Tammy Logan. Do you love reducing your environmental impact? Me too! I love sharing my simple tips, honest stories, and latest discoveries, all leading to a healthy, meaningful life. If you don't want to miss any of this, follow my blog to get each new post sent straight to your inbox.

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Tammy Logan is the author of Gippsland Unwrapped, a blog committed to the pursuit of plastic and waste free living. Based in Gippsland, Victoria Tammy combines her experience in conservation biology and community engagement with her dairy farming roots, to deliver a humble and honest approach to plastic and waste free family life. Tammy wants to prove that living sustainably results in a more meaningful life and that as consumers, our buying power can be a strong force for positive change.